16 DAYS MEXICO EXTRAVAGANZA

Transfer: Airport to Hotel

You would be met and transferred to your accommodation for the night.

Colourful Guanajuato & Dolores Hidalgo’s Independence Trail

Drive 1.5 hours to Guanajuato (UNESCO) for panoramic views from Monumento al Pipilla. Descend into the historic centre to visit the University of Guanajuato, the Juarez Theatre, and house-museum of muralist Diego Rivera. Continue 1 hour to Dolores Hidalgo, where Mexico’s independence was first ignited. You will also get connected to the city’s contemporary culture at its bustling markets, traditional ceramic and tile workshops, and a beloved local shop serving exotic sorbets. Drive 45 minutes back to San Miguel de Allende.

Unveiling San Miguel de Allende

Explore the cobblestone streets of San Miguel de Allende (UNESCO) dotted with Spanish colonial and Mexican Baroque architectures. Listen to the sound of church bells and street musicians around the leafy central plaza, where the iconic pink spires of the Parroquia de San Miguel Arcangel rise dramatically against the sky.

Transfer: San Miguel de Allende to Zitacuaro

You will be driven approximately 4 hours to Zitacuaro.

Monarch Butterfly Migration at Sierra Chincua Sanctuary

Journey approximately 1 hour to Sierra Chincua Sanctuary (UNESCO) to experience the annual migration of monarch butterfly. As the forest of towering firs grows denser, your expert guide will recount the remarkable story of how Canadian scientist Fred Urquhart uncovered the wintering ground of these spectacular creatures before you reach the epicenter, where millions of monarchs cling to branches in shimmering clusters. Note: The trail may reach up to 3,048 meters above sea level. Horse rides are available and subject to availability at the time of arrival.

Monarch Butterfly Migration at El Rosario Sanctuary

Journey approximately 1.5 hours to El Rosario Sanctuary (UNESCO), passing through a fertile valley of fruits and flowers. As the forest thickens, you will eventually reach the epicentre where millions of monarch butterflies can be found covering the branches of the fir trees. Marvel at the butterflies’ black and orange wings as they flutter through the open areas into the clouds, a truly magical moment! Note: The trail may reach up to 3,048 meters above sea level. Horse rides are available and subject to availability at the time of arrival.

Transfer: Zitacuaro to Mexico City

You will be transferred approximately 3-3.5 hours to Mexico City.

Best of Mexico City

Step into the city’s historic center (UNESCO) at Zocalo. Admire the Metropolitan Cathedral, the National Palace, the lively Avenida Francisco I. Madero and the dazzling Palace of Fine Arts, which seamlessly blends Art Nouveau and Art Deco styles. Visit the National Museum of Anthropology to uncover a vast collection of Mesoamerican artefacts, housed within a renowned architectural building by Pedro Ramirez Vasquez.

Evening Folklorico Ballet

Featuring over 70 choreographic pieces founded by Amalia Hernandez, the folkloric ballet represents the finest of Mexican culture and folklore through artistic representations that has captured the hearts of people worldwide.

Echoes of Teotihuacan

Journey approximately 75 minutes to the monumental ruins of Teotihuacan (UNESCO). Walk along the colossal Pyramids of the Sun and Moon, as well as the legendary Avenue of the Dead, as you uncover temples, palaces and murals which reveal the rituals, beliefs and daily lives of the Teotihuacano civilization.

Timeless Puebla & Cholula

Drive 2 hours to Pueblo Magico of Cholula, home to the largest pyramid complex ever constructed and now crowned by a hilltop Catholic church. Stroll through charming plazas with lively cafes and artisanal shops into the Convent of San Gabriel. Continue 30 minutes to Puebla (UNESCO). Admire the 17^th century Biblioteca Palafoxiana, the Puebla Cathedral, and the famous Calle de los Dulces with traditional sweet shops. Uncover Puebla’s artistic heritage at Museo Amparo (closed Tuesdays) or Museo Internacional del Barroco (closed Mondays).

Transfer: Mexico City to Oaxaca

You will be driven approximately 45 minutes to the airport for your flight to Oaxaca. Upon arrival, you will be driven approximately 30 minutes to your accommodation.

Monte Alban: Empires Above the Valley

Journey to the remarkable ruins of Monte Alban (UNESCO), one of the earliest great cities of Zapotec civilization in Mesoamerica. Perched dramatically atop a flattened mountain overlooking the Oaxaca Valley, this ancient capital once commanded political, economic, and spiritual influence across the region. You will also explore the historic Zocalo de Oaxaca (UNESCO), from its bustling central square to its largest central market where you will gain insights into different local handicrafts.

Transfer: Oaxaca to Merida

You will be driven approximately 30 minutes to the Oaxaca airport, where you will board your flight Merida. Upon arrival, you will be transferred approximately 20 minutes to your accommodation for the night.

Legends of Uxmal & Merida

Step into the ancient Maya world at Uxmal (UNESCO), renowned for its rounded architecture and intricate stone latticework. Uncover the legends surrounding the towering Pyramid of the Magician and the Maya cosmology in the Nuns’ Quadrangle. Stroll through the elegant city of Merida, including the lively Plaza Grande, the imposing Merida Cathedral, the Monument of the Homeland, as well as the stately Paseo de Montejo with its grand colonial edifices.

Transfer: Merida to Chichen Itza with Sightseeing

You will be driven 75 minutes to Izamal for sightseeing, followed by another 1 hour to Chichen Itza.

Pueblo Magico of Izamal

Listed in UNESCO’s tentative heritage list, Izamal is known as the “Yellow City” and believed to be the largest Mayan city of the northern Yucatan Peninsula. You will visit the impressive Convento de San Antonio de Padua built atop the base of an ancient Mayan pyramid, as well as its expansive atrium—one of the largest in the Americas!

Transfer: Chichen Itza to Tulum with Sightseeing

You will be transferred to Tulum with sightseeing along the way.

Chichen Itza, Sacred Cenotes & Valladolid

Explore the legendary Chichen Itza (UNESCO): the Temple of the warriors, the Great Ball Court, and the iconic El Castillo (Pyramid of Kukulkan). Uncover the Maya cosmology, religion, as well as their profound understanding of life and death. Visit the magical sinkhole of Cenote Dzit Nup hidden within a mystical underground chamber, with its dramatic stalactites hanging from the rock ceiling as a shaft of sunlight pierces through the small opening. Let us whisk you to the colonial town of Valladolid with its elegant Convent of San Bernardino de Siena.

Tulum at Leisure

Today is free at leisure for you to enjoy the beach, the beautiful surroundings, and/or the accommodation facilities. Alternatively, we are also happy to tailor-make excursions to visit the archaeological sites near Tulum, the unique Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve, or arrange snorkelling with turtles at Akumal at an additional fee.

Transfer: Tulum to Cancun Airport

You will be driven approximately 2 hours to Cancun airport for your onwards journey.